No Robe (Atsuika)
Artist/Culture
Japanese
Date17th Century
MediumSilk brocaded with colored silk and gold
Dimensions154.9 x 139.7 cm (61 x 55 in.)
ClassificationsCostumes and Accessories
Credit LineAlexander H. Bullock Fund
Object number1964.79
Label TextStimulated by the Chinese figured silks and satins imported on a large scale in the sixteenth century, the Japanese developed new forms of polychrome-patterned weaving and decorative techniques. The free-form and asymmetrical patterns of these textiles distinguish Japanese from Chinese taste. This richly brocaded No robe is typical of the early Edo period in its use of a frame by which the details of the design are rendered legible. The regular linear intervals created by the slanted rectangle and the enclosed flowers are the focus of interest. This organized frame, which takes the geometric form of an asymmetrical lattice, and the chrysanthemums enclosed within its interstices create a powerful surface design.ProvenanceAlice Boney, 14 East 60th Street, New York NYOn View
Not on view
